Ingot stacking machine



J. CHAMBRAN Dec. 5, 1967 INGOT STACKING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 23, 1965 FlG.l

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Dec. 5, 1967 J. CHAMBRAN 3,356,231

INGOT STACKING MACHINE Fi led Oct 23, 1965 9 SheetsSheet 5 Dec. 5, 1967 J. CHAMBRAN 3,356,231

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Dec. 5, 1967 J. CHAMBRAN 3,356,231

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United States Patent 3,356,231 INGOT STACKING MACHINE Jacques Chambran, Tarascon-sur-Ariege, France, assignor to Pechiney-Compagnie de Produits Chimiques et Electrometallurgiques, Paris, France Filed Oct. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 503,860 Claims priority, application France, Nov. 10, 1964, 994,482 16 Claims. (Cl. 214--6) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOURE An ingot stacking machine for stacking ingots in horizontal layers with the ingot in each layer arranged in side by side parallel relation and with the ingots in one layer turned to extend at an angle of 90 to the ingots in adjacent layers, comprising a horizontally disposed tray mounted for movement in the vertical direction between raised and lowered positions, means for controlling raising and lowering movements of the tray, a turntable on the top side of the tray and means for controlling rotational movement of the turntable relative to the tray, a group of movable carriages for placing ingots on the tray including in combination a first stationary rail having the upper surfaces contoured to provide a series of saw teeth having rising cam surfaces extending crosswise above the tray, a first carriage having rollers ridable on the saw tooth edges of the first rails for raising and lowering movements of the carriage responsive to displacement of the rollers up and off of the cam surfaces, a second pair of rails fixed on the first carriage and extending in the same direction as the first rails, a second carriage having rollers ridable on the second rails for crosswise displacement of the second carriage relative to the first carriage and the tray, means for displacement of the first carriage on the first rails to raise and lower the carriages as the first car- I riage is displaced up and off of the cam surface of said rails respectively, means for displacement of the second carriage on the second rails for crosswise movement relative to the first carriage and the tray, a holding means carried by said second carriage having means mounted for shifting movement into and out of engagement with the ends of the ingots, and a support for a plurality of aligned ingots arranged in side by side parallel relation and positioned to one side of the tray in crosswise alignment with the rails and at a level for engagement of the ingots by said holding means during movement of the first carriage up the cam surface and for release of said ingots by said holding means during return movement of the fir carriage off the cam surface.

This invention relates to a novel machine for handling metal ingots.

Many metals and alloys are supplied to users in the form of ingots of relatively low volume thereby to enable handling in small quantities. The ingots are normally supplied to the users and to the distributors in the form of stacks in which theingots are similar one to another.

In order to facilitate stripping of the ingots from the molds, the ingots previously were formed with a marked taper. The volume which they occupied was usually defined by two rectangular top and bottom faces of different dimensions joined by inclined side Walls. In order to minimize the volume occupied by the ingots in the stack, the ingots were arranged in side by side relationship in the stack with alternate ingots positioned with the larger faces in the downward direction with the ingots in between having their smaller faces in the downward direction so as to provide an interfitting relationship.

It is known to build machines for the arrangement of ingots in the manner described. The need to turn over every other ingot after leaving the casting apparatus necessarily complicates the mechanism and the known automatic machines are relatively unreliable in operation.

It has recently become known to make ingot molds for producing ingots to be cast and stripped with only a slight taper. For a more detailed description thereof, reference can be made to the pending French patent application No. 975,506, filed on May 22, 1964 and titled, Novel Ingot Moulds and a Casting Line Using Such Moulds.

The object of this invention is to provide a machine for stacking ingots in which the machine is simple in construction and reliable in operation and which enables the ingots to be stacked in p stacks, each containing a number n of ingots disposed parallel in the same direction with each stack being arranged at right angles to the preceding one and it is a related object to produce a new and novel ingot stack with the apparatus of the type described.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter appear and for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, an embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic elevational view of the stacking machine embodying the features of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a section taken along the line a-a of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view showing the group of carriages and stacked ingots;

FIG. 4 is a detailed sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the group of carriages shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an elevational View showing the movable tray;

FIG. 7 is a hydraulic diagram for the machine;

FIG. 8 is an electrical diagram for the apparatus controlling the means for extracting and advancing the ingots;

FIG. 9 is another hydraulic diagram of the machine;

FIG. 10 is an electrical diagram which is concerned with the control of the group of carriages;

FIG. 11 is an electrical diagram that is concerned with the stacking of the ingots;

FIG. 12 is an electrical diagram for rotating the movable tray; and

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the control of the means for keying the ingots onto the movable tray.

The machine embodying the features of this invention comprises the following elements:

(1) A movable tray on which the stack is formed.

v(2) A driving means which controls the raising and lowering of the movable tray.

' (3) A driving means which controls the rotation of at least-the upper portion of the movable tray.

('4) A group of movable carriages for placing the in- 'gots on the movable tray including at least two rails, the profiles of which contain cut-outs substantially like saw teeth, a first carriage having rollers adapted to travel along the rails and having at least two normal rails, and finally a second carriage equipped with rollers adapted to travel along the rails provided by the first carriage and having a holder adapted to carry the n ingots of a layer to be stacked.

(5) A driving means controlling the translatory movement of the first carriage along the saw tooth rails.

(6) A driving means controlling the movement of the second carriage along the normal rails with which the first carriage is equipped.

(7) A pusher for advancing the n ingots onto the holder with which the second carriage is equipped and a drive means for imparting translatory movement to the pusher.

8) Another pusher for ejecting the completed stack and a drive means for imparting translatory movement to the other pusher. f

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the apparatus is automatic and further comprises a sequencing mechanism which provides coordination and control of the movements of the various members of the stacking machine.

The stacking machine which will now be described is designed for use in the casting line described in the French patent application referred to above. The means for placing the ingots in the stacking machine are envisaged as dependent on the ingot-extracting means with which the casting line is provided. It should be added, however, that, subject to adaptation which will be obvious to an expert, the machine described may be used in any casting line.

In order to explain how the connection between the stacking machine and the casting line operates, FIG. 1 shows, apart from the stacking machine, the end of the casting line with its extracting means, visible more particularly in FIG. 2.

The ingot molds with which the casting line 100 is equipped each have two small movable fins 117 and 118 corresponding to the end portions of the in'g'ot and more particularly to the lugs 7 and 8 provided on the ingot 10, the body of which is represented by reference 9.

The bodies of the ingot molds are fixed to at least one roller chain 101 passing over two similar center bosses including the end-of-line boss 102. The rollers of these chains travel along rails provided on the framework 103 of the casting line.

At the time of casting, the movable fins of the ingot molds are held in the closed position by two holding roller chains not visible in the figures.

When the ingot molds reach the end portion of the casting line, the only part shown, the fins 117 and 118 of the molds, which are no longer kept in the closed, i.e'. raised position, drop and thereby free the lugs 7 and 8 of the ingots 10. It is by these lugs that the extracting means picks up the ingots to forward them to the stacking machine.

The extract-ing means comprise a frame 104 carrying two extracting implements 105 and 106, the path of which is restricted by stops 107 and 108, each implement being brought back into contact with its stop by a spring 109 to 110. The extracting means are mounted so that they can slide along vertical slides 111-112 mounted on the vertical bands 113-114. The frame 104 is connected to a ram 310 which can impart a vertical translatory movement to it, In the embodiment illustrated, the extracting position of the extractor, i.e. the lowest position, corresponds to the arm in position of the ram. The opposite arrangement is, of course, also possible.

The stacking machint proper comprises essentially the means 200 for bringing forward the ingots, the group 210 of movable carriages ensuring that the ingots are place on the stack, the movable tray 240 on which the stack of ingots is formed and, finally, the sequence mechanism controlling the movements of the above mechanisms and ensuring coordination between them.

The means 200 for bringing the ingots forward comprises a slide formed, in the example illustrated by two lateral Checks 201 and 202 and a pusher 203 controlled by the ram 320. The lateral cheeks are supported by a framework 205 rigidly connected 'to the frame of the machine. The ram 320 and pusher 203 are mounted on the framework 206 rigidly connected to the main bars 101 of the frame.

The movable carriage unit 210 comprises two stationary rails with a profile substantially in theshape of saw teeth, and a first carriage equipped with rollers travelling along these rails and in which the first carriage itself is equipped with two rails with a substantially straight profile along which travel the rollers provided on the second carriage, which bears a holder adapted to carry the ingots to be stacked.

The stationary rails 211 and 212 are cut out of a vertical strip or out of an angle iron with one of its limbs vertical, or out of any other equivalent article. The vertical limb of each of the rails comprises a horizontal upper portion 213, an inclined portion 214 and, as an optional feature, a lower horizontal portion 215.

The first carriage 220 comprises a carriage frame 221 bearing two series of rollers adapted to travel respectively along rails 211 and 212 such as the six rollers 222 to 227, the three rollers 225 to 227 not being visible in the drawings. Fixed onto the frame 221 are two straight rails 228 and 229 for travel. These may be formed by the side members of the frame 221 as shown in FIG. 3.

The second carriage 230 comprises a frame 231 mounted on the rollers, single-flanged or double-flanged wheels 232 to 235 of which only the first two are visible -Each of the side members of the frame carries a holder adapted to pick up the ingots by their lugs 7 and 8. The holder may, for example, be formed by a downward prolongation 236 to 237 of the side members, a lateral portion 238 to 239 being fixed to the prolongation and engaging below the lugs of the ingots.

The rails 211 and 212 are rigidly connected to the frame of the stacking apparatus; the first carriage is connected to a ram 340 which controls its displacement along these rails, and the second carriage is connected to the ram 330 which controls its displacement along the rails 228 and 229 provided on the first carriage.

The moving tray 240 (FIG. 6) comprises a base 241 to which are fixed supports 242 and 243, each of which is provided with a roller 244 and 245 respectively, sliding respectively in a vertical guide 246 and 247. The base 241 carries, mounted on a vertical shaft, a ball or roller bearing or any other equivalent means, a toothed rim 248 engaging with a tangent screw 251 controlled by a motor 380 not shown in FIGS. 1 to 6. The rim 248 carries a case 249 equipped with loose-mounted rollers, such as 250. The tray is driven with a vertical translatory movement by at least one ram 350.

Supplementing the movable tray is an ejecting pusher 252 controlled by the ram 360. I FIG. 3 shows a modified version of the movable tray 240 in which the base 241 carries two forks 252 and 253, of which only the former is visible. Each fork carries at least one and preferably two rollers, the rollers of each fork sliding in guides; thus the fork 252 is equipped with two rollers 254 and 255 sliding in the slide guide 256.

The apparatus operates as follows: Each of the ingot molds reaches the end of the casting line with the movable fins 117 and 118 in the lower position. The lugs 7 and 8 on the ingot 10 contained in a mold are thus freed and can be grasped by extracting implements and 106. 7

By the action of the ram 310 a downward translatory movement is imparted to the frame 104 of these extracting means, which slides along the slides 111 and 112. It reaches the top of the line when n ingotsin the case shown in FIG. 1 ingots 11 to 15are in place, in the extraction position shown as position 1 in FIG. 1. The jaws of the implements move aside as they slide over the lugs of the ingots, then are returned by springs 109 and 110 to the extracting position, which is the one shown in FIG. 2. The frame then reascends by the action of the ram 31f] until the ingots are opposite the pusher 203 and slides 201 and 202, in the position *2; the movement of the ram 310 is arrested at this moment and the ram 320 comes into play. The pusher 203 pushes the ingots firstly until they are in contact with one another and then until, at the ends of the slides, they join the position 3. The ram 320 resumes the arm in position, then the extractor returns to the lower position.

While this movement is being carried out, the carriage 220, by the action of the ram 340, takes up its lower position on the rails 211 and 212, the travelling rollers, such as 223, moving to occupy the lower portion such as 215 of the saw teeth forming the profile of the rails. By the action of the ram 330, the carriage 230 moves along the rails 228 and 229 provided on the carriage 22% until the horizontal portions 238 and 239 of the holders with which it is provided are at right angles with the lugs of ingots in position 3 and below said lugs. By the action of the ram 340 the carriage 220 adopts its upper position on the rails 211 and 212, the travelling rollers such as 223 moving to occupy the upper portion, such as 213, of the saw teeth constituting the profile of the rails. The horizontal portions 238 and 239 of the holders are thus raised, coming into contact with the lugs of the ingots and raising the latter. By the action of the ram 330, the carriage 230 moves along the rails 228 and 229 provided on the carriage 220 and returns to its position above the movable tray 240 corresponding to position 4 of the ingots.

While the carriage unit is thus making It ingots move from position 3 into position 4, the ram 350 imparts a downward vertical translatory movement equal to the average height of an ingot to the movable tray, while the case 249 carrying the rollers 25f) turn through a quarter of a revolution by the action of the motor 380 controlling the tangent screw 251.

After this movement the carriage 220 resumes its lower position, the rollers, such as 223, returning to the lower portion such as 215 of the saw teeth; the carriage 230 follows this movement, so that the holders with which it is provided, carrying out the same downward translatory movement, deposit the it (here five) ingots on the movable tray or on the layer of ingots already deposited thereon.

From the first moment when the tray is empty, the operations described are repeated p times so that one obtains, on the moving tray, a pile of p layers each containing 11 ingots juxtaposed in the same direction, such layers being offset by a quarter of a revolution from the previous layer. In the apparatus constructed by the applicants the stack comprises fifteen layers of five ingots.

When the pth layer of ingots has been set down, the movable tray is in the lower position, the axis of the rollers 250 being directed perpendicularly to the plane of FIG. 1. At this movement, the ram 360 acts on the pusher 252 and ejects the completed stack. The movable tray is acted on by the ram 350 and returned to the upper position, and the case 249 turns a quarter of a revolution by the actioof the motor acting on the screw 251.

It will be noted that the ram 350 has to be capable of giving the movable tray p different positions in the descending direction whereas in the rising direction only the two end positions are necessary. All the other rams serve only to put the controlled member in one or other of the two positions.

The apparatus described can be applied to any casting line, even one based on the use of different ingot molds.

As an example, pistons are sometimes used to extract the ingots, the pistons raising the body of the ingot. The lugs of the ingot are thus freed and the machine described remains valid, the extractor described then serving only to pick up the ingots in order to bring them forward in front of the pusher 203.

It is also the practice to use casting lines in which the ingots are extracted by turning over the ingot mold, which is struck or vibrated. In this case it is sufficient to fonn a group of n ingots by any means such as slides or pushers to take the group between the jaws of a holder and to turn them over before presenting them to the stacking machine, for example in position 2 or 3 in FIG. 1.

It is also possible to replace some of the arrangements described by modified forms without thereby going beyond the scope of the invention. Thus the rams may be of any known type such as hydraulic, pneumatic, mechanical or electrical ones, or they may be replaced by winches or other equivalent means. The ingots, instead of moving along slides in which their lugs are applied, may move' with their body bearing on slides, rollers, or conveyor belts, supplemented by side pieces to center the ingots.

It is sometimes desirable to have the ingots in the layer at the bottom of the stack in a form which makes it easier to handle the stack. In this case the shape used is one in which the length of the body of the ingot is reduced in favor of the length of the lugs. This means that the ingot molds in the casting line have to be per sonalized. Thus in the case of stacks containing 15 layers of 5 ingots, the line will comprise at least normal ingots and 5 special ingots for the bottom stack, so called blade ingots, and this series of ingots may be repeated as many times as desired. The only modification which has to be made to the apparatus described is that the slides 201 and 202 have to be equipped with side pieces in order to center the blade ingots in position 3.

The apparatus may be supplemented by any type of automatic control unit, a mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, electric or electronic one, or by a combination of at least two of these means.

A description will now be given of a particularly strong unit which requires very little maintenance even if operated in a foundry workshop where working conditions are difficult, i.e., where the atmosphere contains vapors and abrasive particles and where the temperature is often high and, in addition, is subject to wide fluctuations.

In the text that follows and in the corresponding FIGS. 7 to 12, the hydraulic apparatus and their circuits bear references ranging from 309 to 399. Each ram bears a reference which is a multiple of 10, starting from 310, and the apparatus and circuits feeding it are presented by the 9 following reference numbers or by one of these numbers followed by a fourth digit. The electrical appliances bear references ranging from 400 to 599 and the electrical connecting leads, bear references over 600. To link up the various electrical diagrams it is sufficient to connect the leads bearing the same reference.

The hydraulic apparatus essentially comprises distributors such as 311. Each distributor is represented by a square containing full lines showing the connections corresponding to the illustrated position of the ram which it controls and broken lines showing the connections corresponding to the opposite position of the ram.

The electrical apparatus comprises:

Proximity detectors such as 401, represented by two unequal rectangles joined along one of their bases; these detectors provide a signal when an energizing member passes in front of them;

Blocks equipped with positive inputs, represented by an arrow, and by restricting or prohibiting inputs, represented by a dot; these are: OP blocks such as 428 which supply an output signal provided that at least one of their (positive) inputs is energized, these blocks being represented by a circle tangent with a straight line with the inputs ending at the latter; AND blocks such as 425 which supply a signal only if all their (positive) inputs are energized and which are represented by a square or rectangle; YES-NO blocks such as 424, which comprise two inputs, one positive and the other restricting and which supply an output signal only if the first of these inputs is energized without the second one being energized; these blocks are represented by a rectangle; AND- NO blocks such as 433, which are AND blocks equipped, apart from their positive inputs, with a restricting input; they supply an output signal only if all their positive inputs are energized without the negative input being energized and are represented by a rectangle; and finally NO blocks such as 444 which supply a signal only if none of their inputsall restricting onesis energized.

These signals are represented either by a special symbol 0 or merely by the reference of the lead conveying them.

The symbol DPA represents a signal which is present each time the position detector DPA is energized; DPA.DPB represents a signal present each time the detectors DPA' and DPB are energized simultaneously,

while DPM.DPL represents a signal which is present only if the detector DPM is energized without the detector DPL being energized.

The various pieces of apparatus are fed with direct or alternating current by leads (not shown); some of the signals are amplified by amplifiers (not shown) when their amplitude does not enable them to act directly on the apparatus. This is the case of the signals feeding the coils of the electric valves and distributors.

The apparatus relating to the extracting means and to the means for bringing forward the ingots will be described first.

The hydraulic circuit (FIG. 7) comprises a pump 301 which, by way of the suction tube 305, sucks oil into the reserve 306 contained in a tank ,and forces it back into the pressure conduit 304 which feeds the distributor 321 directly and the distributor 311 indirectly. The tube also ends at the electric valve 302 controlled by the coil 303 which is supplied with electric current by the lead 618, signal As. So long as the coil is energized the valve remains closed. When the energization ceases the valve discharges the conduit 304, through the tube 307, into the oil reserve 306.

The extracting ram 320 is supplied by the distributor 321, controlled by the coils 322, which is responsible for the insertion of the arm of the ram, and 323 which is responsible for the withdrawal thereof. The coil 322 is fed by the lead 626-signal -Brwhile the coil 323 receives the signal Be via the lead 623. The distributor is connected to the ram by conduits 324 and 325. In the arm in position the pressure conduit 304 communicates with the conduit 325 and the conduit 324 ends at the discharge 326 as shown in full lines. In the arm out position it is the conduit 324 that receives the pressure from 304, while the conduit 325 ends at the discharge 326 as shown in broken lines.

The ram 310 for bringing forward the ingots is fed by the distributor 311 by way of conduits 314 and 315. The distributor is controlled by coils 312 and 313, energization of 312 corresponding to the arm in" position. The coil 312 is actuated by the signal Ar, lead 628, and the coil 313 by the signal As, lead 618. The distributor is fed with pressurized fluid through the conduit 325, via the sequence valve 318, and the ,duct 317, with the result that the ram 310 can be actuated only when the ram 320 is in the arm in position, since the sequence valve .does not open unless it is acted on under a minimum pressure P318. This fulfills the need of leaving the pusher 203 in the sideways position While the extracting means are operating. The distributor 311 is connected to the discharge tube 316.

For the description of the electrical circuit shown in FIG. 8 it will be assumed that the ingots are stacked in p layers of n ingots, the bottom layer being made up of blade ingots.

Each ingot mold that starts a new layer, i.e., one ingot mold in n, is equipped with a smaller layer-starting plate A adapted to sensitize a position detector DPA, reference 401, which when the plate A is in front of it, sends a signal into a lead 602. Each ingot mold at the beginning of a new stack is moreover equipped with a small stackstarting plate B adapted to sensitize a position detector DPB, reference 402, lead 602.

The ram 320 carries a plate C adapted to sensitize a position detector DPC, reference 403, lead 621, when the arm of the ram is inserted, i.e., when the pusher 203 has been moved aside. Similarly the ram 310 carries a small plate D adapted to sensitize a position detector DPD, reference 404, lead 622, when the arm of this ram is out, i.e. when the ingot extractor is in the lower position.

When the ingots are in the position for being stacked, i.e. in position 3, the plate A of the top ingot sensitizes the position detector DPH, reference 405, which sends a signal into a lead 606.

A memory of automatic operation 421 has two inputs, a restricting one connected by the lead 604 to a stop automatic operation knob 427. The two knobs, which establish contact only so long as they are actuated, are also connected to the supply circuit by the lead 601. The memory 421 has an output which sends into the lead 607 the signal RM for general starting and general maintenance of the registers or regulators.

A beginning-of-cycle-memory 422 has two positive inputs respectively connected to leads 605 and 607 and a restricting input connected to the lead 606. The memory is hooked on or comes into step only if the signals conveyed by 605 and 607, hereinafter referred to as signals 605 and 607, are simultaneously present and if the signal 606 is absent. This memory has an output at 608.

An AND-NO" circuit 423 has two positive inputs respectively connected by the lead 602 to the position detector DPA401 and by the lead 603 to the detector DPB40Z, and a restricting input connected by 608 to the output of the circuit 422. It feeds an output signal into the lead 609 when DPA and DPB are present and when 422 is not feeding any signal into 608.

A circuit 424 has two inputs, a positive one connected to the detector DPA401 by 602 and a negative .one connected by 608 to the output of 422. The output is connected by 610 to one of the two inputs of an OR circuit 428. The AND circuit 425 has its two positive inputs connected respectively by 602 to DPA401 and by 603 to DPB402; its output supplies the signal DPA.DPB and acts, via the lead 611, on the second input of the circuit 428 emerging at 612.

The circuit 430 has a positive input directly connected to 612 and a negative input connected to 612 by a circuit 429 which introduces a phase lag. A signal thus appears at the output of 430, .at 614, as soon as 612 is acted on by 428, but it is extinguished after a time fixed by 429, before the signal 612 is extinguished.

There follows a series of three sequence memories each of which, once it has come into step, contributes towards bringing the next one into step and brings the preceding one out of step.

Each memory comprises an OR circuit, an amplifier and an AND-OR" circuit connected in series, the output of the last circuit being connected to the input of the first circuit so as to form a closed loop which in elfect constitutes the memory.

The OR circuits 434-437-440 have their respective outputs connected to the inputs of the amplifiers 435, 438-441 by the leads 619-624-629. The output of each of these amplifiers is connected to one of the positive inputs of the AND-OR circuit 436-439-442 by the lead 620-625-627; the output of each of these AND-OR circuits is coupled to one of the inputs of the OR circuit of the same memory by the lead 618-623-626. The latter also form the output leads for the three memories.

Each of the AND-OR circuits has a second positive input connected, in the case of all three circuits, 'by the lead 607 to the signal RM for the general maintenance of the registers, and a restricting input connected, in the case of the first two memories, to the output of the following memory by the respective leads 623-626 and, in the case of the circuit 442 of the last memory, to the detector DPC by 621.

The -OR circuit 434 of the first memory, apart from the input already described and used for looping, has two other positive inputs connected in one case by 614 to the output of 430 and in the other case by 621 to the detector DPB403, The two other OR circuits have two other positive inputs, one of which is connected to the output of the amplifier of the preceding memory by the respective leads 620-625, the other being connected in the case of 437 to the detector DPD by 622 and in the case of 440 to the detector DPH by 606.

The NO circuit 444 has its three restricting inputs connected respectively to the outputs 618, 623 and 626 of the three memories; it emerges into the lead 628 and supplies a signal only if none of its inputs is actuated.

The outputs described are connected as follows:

618 supplies a signal As and is connected to the coil 303;

628 supplies a signal Ar and is connected to the coils 303 and 312;

623 supplies a signal Br and is connected to the winding 323;

626 supplies a signal Br and is connected to the winding 322.

It goes without saying that amplifiers of suitable strength are intercalated in these four circuits.

The first part of the apparatus operates as follows:

A switch or a general relay is provided in the circuit for the general feeding of the logical circuits and amplifiers. After manipulating this piece of equipment the operator presses the knob 427, causing the memory 421 and then 422 to come into step; the restricting input 604 is not in fact fed whereas the positive input 605 is live, with the result that a signal RM appears at the output of 421 in 607; the signal acts on one of the positive inputs of 422, the other positive input of which is supplied by 605; this results in the appearance of a signal at 608 since, as there are no ingots in position 3, the detector DPH is not energized so that there is no signal at the restricting input of 422.

The pusher 203 is retracted and the distributing means 321 are in the corresponding position (shown in full lines) so that the ducts 304 and 325 are connected.

Nothing happens until the appearance of the first bladetype ingot mold, registered by the simultaneous energization of detectors DPA401 and DPB402; the circuit 424 is in fact blocked by the presence of a signal at 608. As a result no signal is present in the three output leads 618, 623 and 626 of the sequence memories and consequently there is no restricting signal at any of the inputs of 444. The signal Ar appears at 628 but the hydraulic circuit cannot act since the signal Ar is supplied to the coil 303 so that the gate valve 302 is open. The two rams 310 and 320 are in the arm in position; the extractor is in the extracting position, i.e., the lower one, and the pusher 203 is moved aside. In this position the plate C sensitizes the position detector DPC403 so that a signal is present at 621 at one of the inputs of the block 434.

When the stack-starting ingot mold, one of the blade type, reaches the extracting position, the detectors DPA401 and DPB402 are excited simultaneously so that the AND circuit 425 supplies a signal at 611. This signal acts on the OR circuit 428 which supplies a signal to 612 resulting in the appearance of a signal at 614. As RM is also present at 607 the first memory, comprising circuits434, 435 and 436, come into step and the signal As appears at 618. The NO circuit 444 is blocked, the signal Ar disappears, the coil 303 is no longer excited, the gate valve 302 closes so that the pressure can be established in.the duct 304. As the signal As 618 is supplied to the coil 313 of the distributor 311 the ram 310 moves into the arm out position. The sequence valve 318 is in fact connected to charging conduit 304. The extractor reascends, moving the first n ingots from position 1 to position 2. i 7

But when the ram is in the open position the plate D carried by the arm of the ram 310 sensitizes the detector DPD404 so that a signal appears at 622. This has the effect of bringing into step the second memory, formed by the circuit 437, 438 and 439, causing the appearance of the signal Be at 623 and the falling out of step of the first memory; the signal As 618 disappears; the coil 313 of the distributor 311 is no longer excited and a signal is supplied to the coil 323, the arm of the ram 320 moves out and the pusher 203 pushes the ingots into position 3.

When the ingots are in this position the position detector DPH405 is energized, causing the third memory, formed by circuits 440,441"and 442, to come into step and the second to fall out of step. Be623 disappears and the signal Br626 appears. The coil 322 of the distributor 321 is fed so that the ram 320 resumes its arm in position; the pusher 203 moves aside.

In this position of the ram 320 the plate C sensitizes the position detector DPC403 which sends a restricting signal via 621 to the circuit 442. The third memory falls out of step and none of the inputs of the NO circuit 444 is actuated any longer. The signal Ar thus appears at 628 and actuates the coil 312, making the arm of the ram 310 move in. The extractor resumes its extracting position. At the same time the signal Ar628 is supplied to the coil 303 of the gate valve 302 and the latter is opened, thereby discharging the pressure conduit 304; the rams 310 and 320 make no further movement until the signal Ar628 disappears.

The signal emanating from the detector DPH405 is also supplied via lead 606 to the restricting input of the memory 422. The output signal at 608 disappears; the restricting input of the circuit 424 is no longer fed so that, when the top ingot of the second layer in the stack is brought forward, energizing detector DPA401 exclusively, the circuit 424, energized by the lead 602, supplies at 610 a signal to replace the signal DPA.DPB which was previously supplied by 425 at 611 and is no longer present. The two rams 310 and 320 are in the inserted position and the layer-extracting cycle is repeated, identical with the one just described.

A description will now be given of the apparatus relating to the group of carriages, the movable tray and the means for ejecting the completed stacks.

The hydraulic circuit shown in FIG. 9 comprises a pump 336 which, through the suction tube 3361, sucks oil into the reserve 337 contained in a tank and forces it back into the pressure conduit 3362 which directly or indirectly feeds the hydraulic distributors, jacks and motor making up the circuit.

The rams controlling the group of movable carriages 220 to 230 are fed, from the pressure conduit 3362, by means of a distributor 341 piloted by a pilot electric valve 342 which is energized by the electric coil 343 acted on by the lead 643.

The electric valve 342 enables the duct 3423 which pilots the distributor 341 to be connected either, in its position 1 (full lines) to the pressure conduit 3362 or, in its position 2 (broken lines), to the discharge 3422. Position 2 corresponds to energization of the coil 343. The distributor 341 feeds the ram 340 via the duct 3414 for the arm in position and 3413 for the arm out position, from ducts 3362 for charging and 3412 for discharging. The same distributor also feeds the ram 330, but by way of sequence valves. For the arm in position it feeds the ram from the duct 3413 by way of the sequence valve 331 adjusted to the pressure, P331, and the tube 3311; for the arm out position it feeds the jack from the duct 3414 by way of the sequence valve 333 adjusted to the pressure P333, and the tube 3332. Retaining valves are shunted onto the two sequence valves: 332 onto 331 and 334 onto 333. i

The ram 350, which may usefully be replaced by at least two rams connected in parallel, provides for the vertical translation of the movable tray 240. The ram is fed, from the pressure conduit 3362, by means of two distributors 351 and 352 arranged in series.

The distributor 352 is mechanically controlled. A bar 3523 opens and the distributor (unbroken lines) and consequently connects the following distributor 351 when in the pulled position. Conversely it cuts oil the supply (broken lines) when the bar is retracted, by a drawback device, inside the distributor. The bar is located at the level of the carriage 230. The distributor thus remains open so long as the carriage 230 is in position 3 of the ingots. The distributor 352 is in fact a double gate valve controlled by the bar 352. It receives the pressure through the conduit 3362 and transmits it to the distributor 351 through the tube 3512. The compressed oil transmitted by 1 1 the latter reaches it through the tube 3511 and leaves it again through the discharge duct 3522.

The distributor 351, fed in the manner just described, is connected by the respective tubes 3513 and 3513 to the two chambers of the ram 350 separated by the piston. The distributor is controlled by a manipulating bar 3515 and may take up 3 positions:

bar inserted: tubes 3512 and 3514 on the one hand and 3511 and 3513 on the other hand are connected; the arm of the jack moves in; this position is shown in full lines;

bar right out: tubes 3512 and 3513 on the one hand and 3511 and 3514 on the other are connected; the arm of the ram moves out; this position is shown in broken lines;

bar halfway: the outlet tubes are isolated from the inlet tubes; the ram does not move; this position is not shown.

The arm of this ram is controlled by a retractable senser 353 made up of a bar adapted to rock about a shaft 3531. One of the ends of the bar carries a finger 3532 which normally rests on the surface of the top layer of stacked ingots. The senser 353 is regulated so that the bar 3515 of the distributor 351 is halfway when the senser is in a position corresponding to the correct height of the top stacked layer.

The senser 353 may be raised and retracted by the action of a ram 370 the arm of which, in the pulled position, raises the 'bar of the senser on the finger side. This ram is controlled by a distributor 371. In a first position, shown in full lines and corresponding to the arm in position of the ram 370, the distributor connects duct 3713 to duct 3362 and duct 3714 to discharge 3712. In a second position, shown in broken lines and corresponding to the arm of ram out position, it connects 3714 to 3362 and 3713 to 3712. The distributor 371 is fed by two electric coils, 372 receiving the signal Or via lead 698 and 375 receiving the signal Gs via lead 668.

The senser may equally well be raised, when the carriage 230 is in the forward position, by a roller 3544 rigidly connected to the carriage.

The hydraulic motor 380 responsible for the rotation of the upper frame 249, equipped with rollers 250, of the moving carriage 240, always rotates in the same direction and must be capable of being immobilized. It is supplied by the double gate valve 381 controlled electrically by the coil 382. This valve is connected to the pressure conduit 3362 and discharge conduit 3812, and by tubes 3813 and 3814 to the hydraulic motor. When tubes 3362 and 3814 are connected and 3812 and 3813 are connected, i.e. when the coil 382 is energized, the motor rotates. This is the position represented in full lines. Conversely when the coil 382 is not energized the tubes 3813 and 3814 are isolated, the motor is blocked. This position is shown in broken lines.

The ram 360 actuating the ejecting pusher 252 is fed by the distributor 361. In a first position, shown in full lines and corresponding to the inserted position of the ram, distributor connects duct 3362 to 3614 and discharge 3612 to duct 3613. In the second position, shown in broken lines and corresponding to the pulled position of the ram, the distributor connects 3362 to 3613 and 3612 to 3614. The distributor 361 is actuated by electrical coils 362, receiving the signal Hr via lead 688 and 363 receiving the signal I-Is via 678.

It may sometimes be useful to prevent the ingots from moving over the rollers of the movable tray 240 while they are being stacked. An arrangement provided for this purpose will be described, although its uSe must be considered as being optional.

For this purpose an extra ram is inserted in the base of the movable tray to immobilize at least one of the blade ingots in the bottom layer by pushing a wedge into the groove which ingots often contain or else, if the ingots should not contain such grooves, by applying a braking plate to the rollers or by any other means.

In the example illustrated the ingot 30 in the bottom layer contains a groove 31 in which is inserted one end of the piston 351 of a ram 399. The latter is conected by a tube 3921 to a distributor 392 constituting a two way valve. The distributor is supplied with pressure by the conduit 3362 and discharges at 3922; it is controlled by two electric coils 393 and 394, acted on respectively by leads 670 and 671.

When the coil 394 is energized by the signal Is (lead 671) the tube 3921 communicates with the pressure conduit 3362; the ram emerges, keying the ingots as shown. The corresponding position of the distributor is indicated by the full line arrow. When the coil 393 is energized by the signal Ir (lead 670), the tube 3921 communicates with the discharge 3922 as shown by the broken line arrow, the piston moves aside and the stack of ingots is no longer keyed.

The electrical circuit comprises (FIGS. 10 and 11) members determining the position of the various pieces of apparatus to be controlled and circuits which, from signals emitted by these members, control and coordinate the action of the hydraulic apparatus described.

The ram 330 carries a small plate which, in the arm in position, sensitizes a proximity detector DPI406 which sends a signal into the lead 630. The ejecting ram 360 similarly carries a small plate but this sensitizes two proximity detectors DPE407, lead 631, and DPF408, lead 362, corresponding respectively to the arm in and arm out positions of the ram. The ram 350, like the preceding one, carries a small plate to sensitize two proximity detectors of which the first, DPG409, lead 633 corresponds to the raised position of the movable tray and the second, DPK410, lead 634, to the lower position of the tray. Finally the upper case 249 of the movable tray 240 also carries a small plate. This sensitizes a first detector DPM411, lead 635, each time the tray is in the correct position after turning through a quarter of a revolution, i.e., each time the axes of the rollers 250 with which the upper case is provided are perpendicular or parallel to the plane or symmetry of the apparatus, and a second detector DPL412, lead 636, every time the axes and rollers 250 are perpendicular to this plane, i.e., in the position which they occupy when the completed stack is evacuated. These plates are not shown in the drawings.

The circuit controlling the cycle of the carriage emits into a lead 643 (FIG. 10) a signal K which, after amplification-the amplifiers for the signals controlling the electric valve and distributor coils are not shown in order not to make the diagrams unnecessarily complicatedactuates the coil 343 provided for the pilot electric valve 342 controlling the hydraulic apparatus responsible for the cycle of the carriage. The signal K is provided by a memory made up of blocks 445 to 448 which are brought into step by the signal sent into the lead 630 by the detector DPI 406 and by the signal emitted by DPH40S into the lead 606, delayed by the group of blocks 450 to 452 and brought out of step by the signal K, lead 643, which is itself delayed by the group of blocks 460 to 462.

These delaying means operate as follows: the lead 606 or 643 is connected to the restricting input of a NO block 450 or 460, the output of which is connected by 640 or 650 to the restricting input of the delaying block 451 or 461; this block is connected by 641 or 651 to the circuit with a time constant RC2 452 or RC3 462 and also to the output lead 642 or 652 providing the delayed signal.

The memory of the carriage cycle comprises:

A first OR block 445 with one of its inputs connected by 642 to the output of the block 451 and the other input coupled to the output of the memory, lead 643, and a second OR block 446 with one of its inputs connected to the signal DPI630 and the other coupled to 643;

An AND block 447 with its two inputs respectively 13 connected to the OR circuits 445 and 446 by leads 637 and 638;

An AND-NO block 448 comprising 2 positive inputs, a restricting input and an output, the latter supplying the output signal K to the lead 643; the first positive input is connected by 639 to the output of the AND block 447, the second positive input is connected by 649 to the output of the AND block 457 described hereinafter, and finally the restricting input receives, vie lead 652, the signal K643 which has been delayed by the circuit 460 to 462, as it has been explained.

The circuit providing the signal which is conveyed by the lead 649 comprises:

A memory, made up of OR block 449 and AND-NO" block 453, which supplies the signal DPGM645 indicating that stacking is taking place; the block 449 has one of its inputs connected by 633 to the detector for the raised position of the movable tray, DPG409, its other input being coupled to the output signal 645; the block 453 has two positive inputs and a restricting input, the positive ones being connected-the first by 607 to the signal PM emitted by the block 421 and the second by 644 to the output of the block 449, while the restricting input receives via 668 the signal Gs for the ram 370 to move out;

A rotary position of tray circuit made up of the YES-NO block 454 of which the positive input is connected by 635 to the position detector DPH411, the restricting input being connected by 636 to the detector DPL412, and further consisting of the AND block 455 with its two positive inputs respectively connected to the same detectors DPM and DPL; these blocks respectively emit the signal DPM.DPL into the lead 646 and the signal DPM.DPL into the lead 657;

The AND block 457 has three positive inputs, the first of which receives the signal RM via 607, the second input receiving the signal DPGM via 645 and the third input being connected by 648 to the output of an OR block 456 with its inputs respectively connected by 646 and 647 to the outputs of the blocks 454 and 455.

The circuit controlling the ejecting cycle (FIG. 11) essentially comprises a series of five memories each of which brings the next one into step and the previous one out of'step.

The first memory receives the signal DPA.DPB.DPH present at the output of the block 423 in the lead 609 when the three detectors DPA401, DPB403 and DPH405 are excited simultaneously. The lead 609 is connected to one of the inputs of an OR block 481, the second input of which is connected to the output 658 of the memory in question. The output of the block 481 is connected to the input of an amplifier 482 by a lead 656, while the output of the amplifier 482is connected by 657 to one of the two positive inputs of an AND-NO block 483 whose output is connected, as stated, to the input of the memory by lead 658; the restricting input of the block 48 3 is connected to the output of the second memory by the lead 668.

The four other memories are all identical. The second memory will be described, for the following ones can be deduced'directly from it by adding ten units for the third memory; twenty units for the fourth memory and 30 units for the fifth memory to each reference given in the description which follows.

The second memory comprises:

2 OR circuits 4'90 and 491 each with one of their inputs connected to the output of the memory in question by lead 668, the other input of the circuit 491 being connected to the output of the block 482 of the preceding memory;

An AND block 492 with its two inputs respectively connected to the outputs of blocks 490 and 491 by leads 665 and 666;

An AND-NO'block 493 with one of its positive inputs connected by lead 667 to the output of the block 14 492, which output is also connected to one of the inputs of the OR block 501 of the following memory; the negative input of the block 493 is connected by lead 678 to the output of the AND-NO block 503 of the next memory.

It will be noted that the AND-NO block 523 of the fifth memory has its restricting input connected by lead 633 to the detector DPG409 and that the second positive input of all the AND-NO blocks, such as 493, of the five memories all receive via lead 607 the signal RM for maintaining the registers emitted by the memory 421.

The second input of the OR block 490 of the second memory receives, via lead 664, the signal emitted by the AND-NO block 458, the two positive inputs of which receive, respectively, the signal emitted by the detector DPI406 via 630 and the signal emitted by the detector DPE407 via 631, the negative input being connected by 698 to the output of the fifth memory.

The second input of the OR block 500 of the third memory receives via 674 a signal emitted by a circuit comprising:

An AND block 459 with three inputs, the first of which receives via 668 the output signal Gs emitted by the block 493 of the second memory, the second receives via lead 647 the signal DPM.DPL emitted by the block 455, and the third is connected by 634 to the detector DPK410;

A delaying circuit comprising the NO block 470 connected by 653 to the output of the block 459, and the delaying block 471 with its restricting input connected by 660 to the output of the block 470 and with its output connected by 674 to the input of the block 500, the block 471 also being connected to the circuit 472, of time constant RC1, by lead 661.

The second input of the OR block 510 of the fourth memory is connected by 632 to the detector DPF408, While that of the 0R block 520 of the fifth memory is connected by 631 to the detector DPE407.

The circuit controlling the ejecting cycle, finally, provides the following signal:

The second memory provides a signal Gs, i.e., emergence of ram G370; its output is connected by lead 668 to the coil 373 of the distributor 371 controlling said ram;

The third memory provides a signal Hs, i.e., emergence of ram H360; its output is connected by lead 678 to the coil 363 of the distributor 361 controlling said ram;

The fourth memory provides a signal Hr, i.e., reinsertion of ram H360; its output is connected by lead 688 to the coil 362 of the distributor 361;

The fifth memory provides a signal Gr, i.e. reinsertion of ram G370; its output is connected by lead 698 to the coil 372 of the distributor 371.

The circuit controlling the motor 380 for rotating the movable tray (FIG. 12) essentially comprises an OR circuit 524 with four inputs which supplies, via lead 730, a signal Mh to the coil 382 controlling the distributor 381, supplying the hydraulic motor 380 and .which receives, at its four inputs, the signals: P1 emitted into lead 711 by a YES-NO block 468, P2 emitted into lead 712 by a YES-NO block 469, and the two signals P3 and P5 emanating from a group of four memories, leads 708 and 728.

The YES-NO block 468 is connected by its positive input, lead 710, to the output of an OR circuit 467, with one of its two inputs connected by 633 to the detector DPG409 and the other connected by 698 to the output of the block 523 described abovesignal Gr. The same block 468 receives, at its negative input, the signal DPM.DPL emitted at 646 by the block 454.

The block 469 has a positive input connected by the lead 668 to the output of the block 493signals Gs-and a restricting input connected by lead 647 to the output of block 455 supplying the signal DPM.DPL.

The four memories supplying the signals 23 and 25 are identical with one another and identical with the second memory, described above, of the ejecting cycle. .It is sufiicient to add four, five, six and seven tens respectively to the references for the memory already described in order to obtain a description of the first, second, third, and fourth memories of the circuit controlling the hytdraulic motor.

The following peculiarities should also be noted: the second input of the OR circuits 530 and 550 of the first and third memories is connected by 704 to the output of :the YES-NO block 486 which emits an impulse of short duration released 01f by detector DPI406, lead 630; the restricting input of the block 466 is connected to the output of the dephasing block 465 by a lead 702, while the positive input of the two blocks 466 and 465 is connected, via 701, to the output of a YES-NO block 464. The positive input of this block is connected by 636 to the detector DPI406, while its restricting input is connected by 700 to the output of an OR block 463 having three inputs respectively connected by 633 to the detector DPG409, by 668 to the output of the block 493, signal DPMTD'FE, and by 698 to the output of the block 523, .signal Gr.

The second input of the OR block 540 of the second memory is connected by 647 to the output of the block 455 supplying the signal DPMDPL, while the second input of the OR block 560 is connected by 646 to the output of the block 454 supplying the signal DPMDPL.

It will be noted that the restricting input of the AND-NO block 563 of the fourth memory is connected by 708 to the output of the first memory, signal P3.

Finally, the second positive input of all the AND-OR blocks of the four memories, i.e., 533, 543, 553 and 563, is connected by the common lead 709 to the output of a 'YES-NO block 554, the restricting input of which is connected by 668 to the output of the block 493, signal =Gs, while the positive input is connected by 607 to the \output of the block 421, signal RM.

The circuit controlling the keying means (FIG. 13) comprises an OR circuit 475 in which the four inputs receive the respective signals: DPA emanating from the detector 409 via the lead 633, Gr emanating from the block 523 via the lead 698, Hs emanating from the block 503 via the lead 678 and Hr emanating from the 'block 513 via the lead 688. At its output the block 475 supplies a signal Ir which is supplied, by lead 670, to the coil 393 of the distributor 392.

The same signal Ir is applied with restricting force to the input of a NO block 476, the output of which supplies the signal Is which is conveyed by the lead 671 to the coil 394 of the same distributor.

The operation of the apparatus controlling the group of carriages, the movable tray and the ejecting means will now be explained.

The apparatus previously described for extracting and bringing forward the ingots leaves them .in position 3, i.e. ready to be stacked, thus causing the detector DPH405 to be energized and to send a signal into lead 606. On the other hand the signal RM emanating from the memory of automatic operation 421 is present in the lead 607 so long as the operator has not depressed the stopping knob 426.

The signal DPH is first delayed in the retarding means comprising blocks 450, 451 and 452 (FIG. 10).

In the absence of any signal at the input of the NO block 450 the latter sends a signal to the restricting input of the block 451; this block therefore does not send any signal into the lead 642. When a signal appears at the input of the block 454 the signal which was at 640 disappears; the delaying block 451 sends a signal into 642 but only after a time fixed by the time constant PC2 of the block 452.

A delayed signal DPM thus appears at 642 at one of the inputs of the OR block 445 which in turn sends a signal into the AND block 447 via 637.

On the other hand, in a manner which will be explained, the arm of the ram 330 has been inserted-the carriage 230 is in the withdrawn position above the position 3 and the detector DPl 406 is energized and actuates the OR block 446 via 630. This block sends a signal into the second input of the block 447 via 638.

As both its inputs are energized the block 447 sends a signal into the AND-NO block 448 via 639.

While the first layer is being et down the detector DPG 409, lead 633, which conveys the raised position of the tray, is energized and acts via the OR block 449 on the AND block 453RM is present at 607so that a signal appears at the output of the OR block 645. This signal is reinjected in the second input of the OR block 449; when DPG ceases to be excited, i.e., after the first layer has been set down, this reinjected signal takes the place of the signal DPG (lead 633), so that the output signal DPGH, lead 645 of the block 453 continues to be present until the signal Gs 668 comes to bring it out of step; the signal DPG is thus memorized and actuates the AND block 457.

When the ingots are to be set down the tray has to be in one of the following positions:

The position for setting down the blade layer, characterized by the presence of the signal emitted by the detector DPM411 and by the absence of that emitted by the detector DPL412; the signal DPM.DPL is then present at the output of the YES-NO block 454, the positive input of which is actuated by DPM411 and the restricting input of which, connected to D-PL412, is not actuated; this signal is then supplied to one of the inputs of the OR block 456;

The position for setting down the layers of even number perpendicular to the preceding one, characterized by the simultaneous presence at the input of the AND block 455 of the signals emanting from detectors DPM and DPL; a signal DPMDPL is then supplied to the other input of the OR block 456; this position is also the one which the frame 249 has to occupy when the stack is ejected.

It will be seen that if the tray occupies one or other of these positions a signal will be supplied via 648 to the block 457. As RM is present at 607 the block acts, via lead 649, on the block 448. As the restricting input of this block is not excited the block supplies a signal K at 643. This signal is reinjected into the second inputs of the two OR blocks 445 and 446; it thus take the place of signals DPH606 and DPI630 after the extinction of the latter. The signal K643 remains until the restricting input of 448 is excited, i.e. for a duration determined by the time constant 462. The signal K is supplied via 643 to the electric valve 342.

Now the ram 340 is in the arm out position, i.e. the carriage 220 is in the lower position, while the ram 330 is in the arm in position.

The distributor 341 i in the position shown (FIG. 9) in full lines. As soon as the signal K643 is supplied to the pilot electric valve 342 the tube 3423 which was (for example, as the opposite is equally possible) under pressure through its connection with 3362 as shown in full lines, is reconnected to the discharge 3422, thereby reversing the position of the distributor 341 which is henceforth in the position indicated by broken lines; 3413 and 3412 are connected and 3414 and 3362 are connected; the ram 340 adopts the arm in position and the carriage 220 the raised position; the ingots in position 3 are raised and rest on the side portions 238 and 239 provided on the prolongations 236 and 237 of the side members of the frame of the carriage 230.

While the ram 340 is completing its movement the pressure at 3414 remains less than P333, the tared pressure of the sequence valve 333. As soon as the ram 340 reaches the end of its stroke this pressure rises and tends to reach the maximum pressure of the pump 336, but as soon as P333 is exceeded, the liquid moves into the rear portion 17 of the ram 330 through the valve 333, while the front portion of the ram is emptied through the retaining valve 332 and duct 3413 into the discharge 3412. The ram 330 adopts the arm out position and the carriage 230 adopts the advanced (stacking) position corresponding to position 4 of the ingots.

The carriages remain in this state, i.e. with the ingots raised in position 4, for the duration of the signal K, but at the end of a time fixed by the retarding means 460 to 462 this signal is interrupted; as the electric pilot valve 342 is no longer actuated it returns to the position shown in full lines; the duct 3423 is under pressure so that the distributor also resumes the full-line position. The part of the cylinder of the ram 340 located to the rear of the piston i pressurized by the reconnected ducts 3413 and 3362, while its front portion is emptied out through 3414 and the discharge 3412; the ram 340 assumes the arm out position and the carriage 220 the lower position. The layer of ingots is deposited and the lugs of the ingots no longer rest on their supports 238 and 239. When this movement is over the pressure rises in 3413 and exceeds P331, the tared pressure of the sequence valve 331, and the pressure is applied to the front-arm side-of the piston of the ram 330, the rear being connected by the retaining valve 334 and the duct 3414 to the discharge 3412. The ram 330 assumes the arm in position; the carriages have readopted their initial position 220 in the lower position, and 230 in position 3 of the ingots. The cycle will recommence on the appearance of the next signal K.

As soon as signals DPI630 and DPH606 appear again the cycle recommence and a new layer is stacked.

The circuit controlling the ejecting cycle comes into play when the pth layer of ingots has been set down. The n ingots in this layer are followed, in the casting line, by n blade ingots designed to form the bottom layer of the next stack. The appearance of the first blade ingot is conveyed by the simultaneous excitation of the detectors DPA401 and DPB4-02, resulting in the appearance at the output of the block 423 (shown in FIG. 8) at 609 of the signal DPA.DPB.DPH, since 405, lead 606, is not energized as there is no layer Waiting to be stacked.

The signal acts (FIG. 11) on the firsLejecting memory made up of blocks 481, 482 and 483. The signal in fact passes into the OR block 471, acts via 656 on the YES block 482 and then, via 657, on the AND-NO block 483. As the signal RM is present at 607 the block 483 supplies, at 658, an output signal to the second input of the OR block 481; from then on the signal DPA.DPB.DPH609 can disappear and the signal 658 will be substituted for it. The memory remains in step.

When the stacking of the pth layer is over the arm of the ram 330 is retracted, and DPI630 is present at the input of the block 458; as the arm of the ram 360 is equally in the retracted position DPE407 is also present; as the signal Gr658 is absent the block 458 is energized. Then as the signal emanating from 482 is present at the input of the second OR block 491, the two inputs of the block 452 are actuated, a signal is emitted by 492 into 667 and the AND-NO block 493 emits a signal Gs at 668. The signal is supplied to the first input of each of the OR circuits 490 and 491 and is thus substituted for the signals DPE.DPI664 and for the signal 657 when these disappear. The second memory is brought into step.

The signal Gs66-8 is also supplied to the restricting input of the block 483, thus making the signal 658 disappear. The first memory is brought out of step.

This description of the operation applies to the three other ejecting memories and also to the four memories of the circuit of the hydraulic motor; it is sufficient to add units to each of the references when passing on from one memory to the next.

The signal Gs is supplied to the coil 3-73 of the dis- Cal tributor 371; thelatter takes up the position shown in the dotted lines in FIG. 9, so that the ram 370 for lowering the tray puts out its arm 3701 and raises the center 353, causing the bar 3515 of the distributor 351 to be extended. As the carriage 230, on the other hand, is in the rear position-position 3 of the ingots-the double gate valve 252 is open (full lines) so that the ram 350 moves into the arm out position, the connections within 351 being those indicated by the dotted line arrows in FIG. 9. The movable tray descends andtakes up the lower position, causing the detector DPK410- to be energized (FIG. 11).

As the frame of the movable tray is in the ejecting position as will be explained below, the signal DPLJDPM appears at 647; the AND circuit 459, having its three inputs energized simultaneously, supplies signal 653. The 'signal is delayed, to allow for the time taken to lower the tray, in the retarding means formed by blocks 470 to 472, the operation of which has been described above, then it actuates the second input of the OR circuit. As the second input of the circuit 501 is already actuated by the signal 667 emanating from 432, the two inputs of the signal 502 are acted on. The third memory is brought into step and emits the signal Hs678 which brings the second memory out of step; the signal Gs disappears.

The signal Hs acts (FIG. 9) on the coil 363 of the distributor 361, which takes up the position shown in dotted lines; the arm of the ejecting ram 360 moves out to eject the stack of ingots.

When the arm is right out the detector DPF408, lead 632 in FIG. 11, is energized as the fourth memory is brought into step. The signal H1688 appears, brings the third memory out of step and acts on the coil 362 of the distributor 361, which takes up the position indicated in full lines. The arm of the ram 360' is retracted, causing the detector DPE40'7, lead 361, to be reenergized with the result that the fifth memory is brought into step and the signal Gr698 appears and brings the fourth memory out of step. The signal is also supplied to the coil 372 of the distributor 371 which resumes the position shown in full lines; the arm 3701 of the ram 370 is retracted and the senser 353 readopts its lower position. As soon as the carriage 230 is in the rear position, the double gate valve 352 being open and the distributor 351 having taken up the position indicated by full-line arrows, the arm of the ram 350 is retracted and the tray rises.

As soon as the tray has returned to the correct position for the depositing of the first layer the senser adopts its middle position, and the distributor 351 isolates the ram 350 so that the tray is immobilized. As the tray is in the raised position the detector DPG409 is excited; it sends a signal via lead 633 to the restricting input of the block 523, thereby bringing the fifth memory out of step.

When the first layer has been set down the end of the senser 353 rises a distance equal to the thickness of the layer deposited, the bar 3515 of the distributor 351 has moved out and the distributor adopts the position indicated by the arrows in broken lines. The arm of the ram 350 moves out, causing the tray to be lowered until the senser has returned to its original level, i.e., until the surface of the layer deposited has taken the place of the surface of the tray itself. This movement of course presupposes that the double valve 352 is open, i.e. that the t carriage 230 is in the rear position. When the carriage is in the forward position the roller 3544 acts on the end 3533 of the senser and raises the latter while a layer of ingots is being deposited. This has no effect on the ram 350 as the double valve 352 is closed, its bar 3523 being repelled by the carriage 230.

It will be noted from FIG. 11 that, because of the presence of the signal Gr698 at the restricting input of the block 458, the second memory cannot be brought into step until this signal has disappeared.

The cycle for the rotation of the tray (FIG. 12) is based on the fact that, after the depositing of each layer, the tray has to turn through one quarter of a revolution. It must, therefore, adopt one or other of two positions:

Position I in which the rollers 250 with which the upper case 249 of the movable tray is equipped are perpendicular to the plane of symmetry of the apparatus; this is the position which it must occupy during ejection, corresponding to signal DPM.DPL;

Position II perpendicular to the previous one; this is the position which it must occupy when a blade layer is being deposited; this position corresponds to the signal DPM.DPL.

At the beginning of this cycle the tray is in the raised position; the signal DPG409 is present; it is supplied via 633 to one of the inputs of the OR block 467 and consequently to the input of the YES-NO block 468. If the tray is in a position other than position II corresponding to the deposition of a layer of blade ingots, the signal DPM.DPL will not be at the restricting input of this block; the output of the block will thus supply a signal P1 at 711. The signal, applied to one of the inputs of the OR blocks 524, results in the emission by way of 730 of a single Mh which is supplied to the coil 382 of the double valve 381, thus causing the hydraulic motor 380 to be fed; 3814 is connected to 3362 and 3813 is connected to 3812.

The upper case 249 of the tray starts turning. When it reaches position II and signal DPM.DPL appears at the lead 646 and blocks the signal P1 711. The signal Mh disappears, the double valve 381 is closed and the motor stops; the tray is in position to receive the blade layer.

On the appearance of the signal DPH405 at 606 the carriage cycle takes place. The five blade ingots are deposited, whereas the signal DPI406, lead 630, is absent. When the ingots have been deposited the signal DPI appears; the tray is lowered hydraulically by a distance equal to the thickness of a layer of ingots and the signal DPG633 consequently disappears.

The appearance of DPI (FIG. 12) in lead 630 at the positive input of the YES-NO circuit 464 makes a signal appear at 701, since neither DPG633, nor Gr638, nor Gs668 is present at the input of the OR block 463, the output of which is acting on the restricting input of the block 464. The signal coming from 464 is supplied directly to the positive input of the block 466 and, after undergoing a phase lag in the block 465, to the restricting input of the block 466. Thus an impulse is received at the output of the block 466 at 704 and its shortness is commensurate with the shortness of the phase lag introduced by 465.

This impulse brings into step the memory made up of blocks 530 to 533, for DPM.DPL is still present at 64-6. This memory produces the signal P3 at 708 and the signal gives rise to a signal Mh730 at the output of the block 524. The signal Mh730 makes the motor 380 rotate and also the upper case of the movable tray until the appearance of the signal DPM.DPL characterizing position I in which the second layer is to be deposited. The signal is in fact supplied to the input of the second memory consisting of blocks 540 to 543 as a signal is present at 708; at 718 the memory supplies a signal P4 which brings the first memory out of step; the motor 380 stops.

The second layer of ingots is deposited when the signal DPI630 reappears and, together with the signal emitted at 717 by the block 542, brings into step the third memory made up of blocks 550 to 553. This provides, via lead 728, a signal P5 which brings the second memory out of step and makes the signal Mh reappear at 730. The motor 380 rotates until the reappearance of the signal DPM.DPL 646, characterizing position 11 which, in bringing the fourth memory into step, brings the third memory out of step.

Attention should be drawn to the presence of the signal RM607 at the second positive input of the blocks 533, 543,

2% 553 and 563, across the YES-NO circuit 554 which is not blocked until the appearance of Gs668.

The tray is in position 11 and the third layer is set down.

When the ram 330 has readopted the arm in position the signal DPI appears again at 630. As neither DPG633, nor Gr698, nor Gs668 are present, the impulse corresponding to the signal DPL reappears at 704. As the signal DPM.DPL characterizing position II of the upper frame of the tray is present at 646, the first memory, made up of blocks 530 to 533, is brought into step again; the signal P3 appears at 708, brings the fourth memory out of step and causes Mh to appear at 730. The motor rotates until the appearance of 647 of the signal DPM.DPL characterizing position I.

The cycle continues thus with each of the four memories bringing the successive one into step and the preceding one out of step until the pth layer has been stacked. The tray is then in position II and the signal DPADPB appears at 609, thus initiating the ejecting cycle already described.

On the appearance at 663 of the signal Gs causing the tray to be lowered, a restricting signal appears at 700 at the output of the OR circuit 463 and blocks the circuit 464 to 466 where the impulse corresponding to DPI630 is being prepared; the first and third memories can no longer be brought into step. The YESNO block 469, on the other hand, is actuated at its positive input; it thus supplies, at 712, a signal P2 which acts on the OR block 524; hence the appearance of the signal Mh730 and the rotation of the upper frame of the tray. When the tray is in position II the signal DPM.DPL appears at 647 and blocks 469; the signal P2 disappears and the motor stops. As DPM.DPL is also present at the input of the block 459 in FIG. 11, the memory made up of blocks 500 to 503 is brought into step and the ram 630, actuated by the signal Hs678, ejects the stack.

By the action of the senser 353 the tray then rises and the signal Gr698 appears at the input of the OR" block 467 in FIG. 12; a signal is transmitted via 710 to the AND-NO block 468 causing the signal P1 to appear at 711 and M11 at 736; the tray turns until DPM.DPL appears. This ends the cycle.

The apparatus controlling the keying ram operates as follows (FIG. 13):

The OR circuit 475 supplies a signal Ir at 670 when there is one of the following signals at its input:

DPG, lead 633, present during the setting down at the first layer of ingots;

Gr, lead 698, present during the raising of the movable tray;

Hs678 and H1688, present during the outward and in ward movements of the ejecting ram 360.

The signal Ir is supplied to the coil 393 of the dis tributor 392 controlling the keying ram 390; the ram thus remains in the ingots not keyed position while the above operations are taking place.

The signal Ir is also supplied to the restricting input of the NO block 476 which emits the signal 15671 at 671; the signal Is is supplied to the coil 395 of the distributor 392 and the ram 390' thus adopts the ingots keyed position during the whole of the stacking cycle except when the first layer is being deposited and when the ejecting ram 360 is in action.

Following this description of an example of the apparatus for stacking ingots, it will be noted that many modifications are possible.

The rams 330 and 340 may be equipped with electrically controlled distributors controlled by a series of memories, each of which brings the next memory into step and the preceding one out of step, similar to the two series of memories described above.

One or more of the hydraulic rams may be replaced by means which are equivalent but provided with a direct electrical control, such as electric rams, mechanical rams controlled by an electric motor or electrically controlled winches. The apparatus would then be actuated directly by the electrical signals described.

It will be understood that changes may be made in the construction, arrangement and operation without departing from the spirit of the invention, especially as defined in the following claims. 1

I claim:

1. An ingot stacking machine for stacking ingots in horizontal layers with the ingot in each layer arranged in side by side parallel relation and with the ingots in one layer turned to extend at an angle of 90 to the ingots in adjacent layers, comprising a horizontally disposed tray mounted for movement in the vertical direction between raised and lowered positions, means for controlling raising and lowering movements of the tray, a turntable on the top side of the tray and means for controlling rotational movement of the turntable relative to the tray, a group of movable carriages for placing ingots on the tray including in combination a first stationary rail having the upper surfaces contoured to provide a series of saw teeth having rising cam surfaces extending crosswise above the tray, a first carriage having rollers ridable on the saw tooth edges of the first rails for raising and lowering movements of the carriage responsive to displacement of the rollers up and ofl of the cam surfaces, a second pair of rails fixed on the first carriage and extending in the same direction as the first rails, a second carriage having rollers ridable on the second rails for crosswise displacement of the second carriage relative to the first carriage and the tray, means for displacement of the first carriage on the first rails to raise and lower the carriages as the first carriage is displaced up and off of the cam surface of said rails respectively, means for displacement of the second carriage on the second rails for crosswise movement relative to the first carriage and the tray, a holding means carried by said second carriage having means mounted for shifting movement into and out of engagement with the ends of the ingots, and a support for a plurality of aligned ingots arranged in side by side parallel relation and positioned to one side of the tray in crosswise alignment with the rails and at a level for engagement for the ingots by said holding means during movement of the first carriage up the cam surface and for release of said ingots by said holding means during return movement of the first carriage off the cam surface.

2. An ingot stacking machine as claimed in claim 1 which includes vertical guides alongside the tray for guiding the tray between raised and lowered positions.

3. An ingot stacking machine as claimed in claim 1 which includes a pusher means in crosswise alignment with the support, means for raising the ingots in crosswise alignment with the pusher means and support, and means for actuation of the pusher means for displacement of the raised ingots onto the support.

4. An ingot stacking machine as claimed in claim 1 in which the second carriage is mounted for movement on the second rails between a first position of adjustment in vertical alignment with the support for engagement with said ingots for removal of the ingots from the support and a second position of adpustment in vertical alignment with the tray for deposition of the ingots as the uppermost layer on the tray.

5. An ingot stacking machine as claimed in claim 4 in which the first carriage is mounted for movement on the first rails toward a raised position up the cam surface of the first rail when the second carriage is in its first position of adjustment thereby to raise the carriages for engagement to raise the ingots from the support and a lowered position of adjustment off of the cam surface when the second carriage is in its second position of adjustment to lower the carriages and deposit the row of ingots as the uppermost row in the stack of ingots on the tray.

'6. An ingot stacking machine as claimed in claim 1 in which the holder comprises a pair of depending members having inwardly extending flanges at their lower ends and in which the holders depending from the second carriage are mounted for rocking movement between an inner position for engagement with the ingots and an outer position for disengagement of the ingots and in which the ingots are formed with lugs extending outwardly from the ends thereof to project into the path of the flanged holders.

7. An ingot stacking machine as claimed in claim 1 which includes control means for lowering the tray by an amount corresponding to the height of the ingots after deposition of each row of ingots onto the tray and for efi ecting rotational movement of the turntable through a one-quarter turn after the deposition of each row to turn the row of ingots through an angle of before deposition of the next row.

8. An ingot stacking machine as claimed in claim 1 in which the means for displacement of the carriages crosswise on the rails and for displacement of the ingots onto the support comprises power actuated ram means.

9. An ingot stacking machine as claimed in claim 5 in which the means for controlling movement of the carriages comprises a first hydraulic ram connected to the first carriage, a second hydraulic ram connected to the second carriage, a hydraulic distributor controlling the second ram including a pilot valve, two sequencing valves respectively connecting the rear chamber defined by the piston in the second ram with a first chamber defined by the piston in the first ram and the front chamber of the second ram, and the front chamber of the second ram with the rear chamber of the first ram and two retaining valves each mounted in parallel on one side of the sequencing valves.

10. An ingot stacking machine as claimed in claim '7 including means for controlling vertical movement of the tray comprising a hydraulic ram connected to the movable tray, a first hydraulic distributor controlling the ram, a double gate valve supplying the first distributor and having its aperture controlled by the rearward position of the second movable carriage in which the front position is the stacking position, and a fourth ram for raising the carriage in which the ram is controlled by a hydraulic distributor.

11. An ingot stacking machine as claimed in claim 3 including means for extraction of the ingots in a casting line including an extracting ram A and in which the pushing means includes a ram B and which includes means for coordinating and automatically controlling the various members of the stacking machine and extractor comprising two position detectors, one DPA of which is energized in response to the passage of an ingot mold supplying the first ingot in the layer, another DPB energized in response to the passage of an ingot mold supplying the first ingot in a stack, a detector DPD which is energized in response to the movement of the arm of ram A to the outer position, a detector DPH energized when the ingots are in the stacking position on the support, a detector DPC energized when the ram B is retracted, a series of three memories each bringing the following one into step and the preceding one out of step, the first additionally being brought into step in response to the two signals DPA.DPB which is present, the second by the output signal from the first and by the signal emanating from DPD, and the third by the output signal from the second and by the signal from DPH and in which the restricting input of the third memory is also connected to DPC, a coil controlling the distributor of the ram A which causes the arm of the ram to move outwardly being connected to the output As of the first memory, the coil for the extension of B being connected to the output Bs of the second memory, the coil for the retractor of B being connected to the output Br of the third memory, and the coil for the retraction of A being connected to the output Ar of a NO circuit in 

1. AN INGOT STACKING MACHINE FOR STACKING INGOTS IN HORIZONTAL LAYERS WITH THE INGOT IN EACH LAYER ARRANGED IN SIDE BY SIDE PARALLEL RELATION AND WITH THE INGOTS IN ONE LAYER TURNED TO EXTEND AT AN ANGEL OF 90* TO THE INGOTS IN ADJACENT LAYERS, COMPRISING A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED TRAY MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT IN THE VERTICAL DIRECTION BETWEEN RAISED AND LOWERED POSITIONS, MEANS FOR CONTROLLING RAISING AND LOWERING MOVEMENTS OF THE RAY, A TURNTABLE ON THE TOP SIDE OF THE TRAY AND MEANS FOR CONTROLLING ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT OF THE TURNTABLE RELATIVE TO THE TRAY, A GROUP OF MOVABLE CARRIAGES FOR PLACING INGOTS ON THE TRAY INCLUDING IN COMBINATION A FIRST STATIONARY RAIL HAVING THE UPPER SURFACES CONTOURED TO PROVIDE A SERIES OF SAW TEETH HAVING RISING CAM SURFACES EXTENDING CROSSWISE ABOVE THE TRAY, A FIRST CARRIAGE HAVING ROLLERS RIDABLE ON THE SAW TOOTH EDGES OF THE FIRST RAILS FOR RAISING AND LOWERING MOVEMENT OF THE CARRIAGE RESPONSIVE TO DISPLACEMENT OF THE ROLLERS UP AND OFF OF THE CAM SURFACES, A SECOND PAIR OF RAILS FIXED ON THE FIRST CARRIAGE AND EXTENDING IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS THE FIRST RAILS, A SECOND CARRIAGE HAVING ROLLERS RIDABLE ON THE SECOND RAILS FOR CROSSWISE DISPLACEMENT OF THE SECOND CARRIAGE RELATIVE TO THE FIRST CARRIAGE AND THE TRAY, MEANS FOR DISPLACEMENT OF THE FIRST CARRIAGE ON THE FIRST RAILS TO RAISE AND LOWER THE CARRIAGES AS THE FIRST CARRIAGE IS DISPLACED UP AND OFF OF THE CAM SURFACE OF SAID RAILS RESPECTIVELY, MEANS FOR DISPLACEMENT OF THE SECOND CARRIAGE ON THE SECOND RAILS FOR CROSSWISE MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO THE FIRST CARRIAGE AND THE TRAY, A HOLDING MEANS CARRIED BY SAID SECOND CARRIAGE HAVING MEANS MOUNTED FOR SHIFTING MOVEMENT INTO AND OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH THE ENDS OF THE INGOTS, AND A SUPPORT FOR A PLURALITY OF ALIGNED INGOTS ARRANGED IN SIDE BY SIDE PARALLEL RELATION AND POSITIONED TO ONE SIDE OF THE TRAY IN CROSSWISE ALIGNMENT WITH THE RAILS AND AT A LEVEL FOR ENGAGEMENT FOR THE INGOTS BY SAID HOLDING MEANS DURING MOVEMENT OF THE FIRST CARRIAGE UP THE CAM SURFACE AND FOR RELEASE OF SAID INGOTS BY SAID HOLDING MEANS DURING RETURN MOVEMENT OF THE FIRST CARRIAGE OFF THE CAM SURFACE. 